Geylang International’s Tomoyuki Doi closing in on Singapore Premier League scoring record

SINGAPORE – At the start of the Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, Geylang International forward Tomoyuki Doi outlined his lofty ambition to The Straits Times, declaring his intention to cement his name as the best striker in the league’s history.

With 34 goals and nine assists in 21 matches, the Japanese forward is proving that was no empty talk.

He is just five goals away from breaking the top-scoring record in a single league season set by Mirko Grabovac, who plundered 38 league goals in a 33-game campaign for Singapore Armed Forces FC in 2001.

“It has been many years now that the record is there, so it would be a great feeling to do it,” said Doi, 27.

“I want to be the No. 1 in the things I do and I want the fans to always remember me.”

He has 11 matches to achieve the feat in the 32-game SPL campaign, starting with a meeting with league leaders Lion City Sailors at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Jan 26 (6pm).

Since arriving in Singapore in 2020 with Albirex Niigata, Doi has made easy work of finding the net.

In his first campaign, he scored 11 goals in 14 appearances and won the title with Albirex before joining Hougang United the following season, where he was awarded the Player of the Year and Golden Boot with 19 goals in 21 matches.

Doi, who

returned to Singapore in 2024 with Geylang

after unsuccessful spells in the third tier of Japan and the Albanian top flight, continues to look for ways to improve himself despite having already scored twice as many goals as his competitors for the Golden Boot. Balestier Khalsa’s Kodai Tanaka, Hougang United’s Dejan Racic and Albirex’s Shingo Nakano are joint-second with 17 goals each.

During a morning training session on Jan 22, Doi was still putting in extra work on the pitch even after the team’s session at Serangoon Stadium had concluded.

While most of his teammates were already in the showers, he continued with a finishing drill with some teammates as opposing defenders.

His approach to shooting practice is to mimic real-game situations.

“I am addicted to goalscoring. So I try to always improve and find ways to score,” said Doi, who admitted that there is interest from local and regional clubs for his services.

“In training, I always try to imagine what my opponent is going to do. It helps me.”

While Geylang coach Noor Ali expects his marksman to shoot down Grabovac’s 24-year-old record, he added that the team’s results are more important.

“He is a natural goalscorer and nearing this record is a big achievement for any striker. But he knows the team’s objective always comes first,” said the Eagles coach, who wants his men to beat the Sailors after their two previous meetings this season ended in draws.

The Eagles are third on 40 points after 21 matches, two points behind BG Tampines Rovers, who have played one game fewer.

The Sailors, who have 45 points from 19 games, will be facing the Eagles just three days after a 0-0 draw in the Asean Club Championship with Thailand’s Buriram United at Jalan Besar Stadium.

Sailors coach Aleksandar Rankovic said: “We have to see what (fitness issues) we have and who can play.

“Of course, there will be some rotations because some of the guys may be fatigued.

“We also rotated in the previous two matches and it ended well, but Geylang are a different kind of opponent (to what we have faced recently) and we will prepare well.”

Balestier Khalsa v Young Lions (Jan 25, 6pm, Bishan Stadium)

With just one win in their last seven matches, Balestier will want to replicate their display from the last encounter against the Young Lions in August, when they won 7-2.

BG Tampines Rovers v Hougang United (Jan 25, 6pm, Jalan Besar Stadium)

There will be some rust for Tampines to shake off in their first competitive outing since Dec 4. Their next opponents, the Cheetahs, looked impressive in their 3-1 win over Balestier on Jan 19.

Tanjong Pagar v Brunei DPMM (Jan 26, 6pm, Jurong East Stadium)

The Jaguars ended a six-match losing run with a 1-1 draw against the Young Lions in interim coach Noh Alam Shah’s first match in charge and will now aim for a first victory in 14 matches when they host DPMM.